"I wasn't the one who needed protecting in that situation. We needed to get our baby, and you did that when I couldn't,"

"But you were shot...by my own fucking mother..."

"Yeah, but how do you know she was aiming for me? This isn't your fault. I was shot, yeah, but I'm still here and I still love you,"

Hunter started crying and Dakota sighed, wiggling out of his arms and going to get their son after putting on a shirt and sweats

Nate went with her. Hunter had become his little companion while Dakota had been in jail. They'd become inseparable, most of the time, Hunter slept with Nate in his bed, or Nate would sleep on the floor beside his crib. It must be weird for Hunter not to have him right there all the time anymore.

"Daddy!" Hunter squealed, spotting Nate. Dakota turned and handed Hunter to Nate silently, her face blank. She quickly moved into the kitchen, making breakfast

Nate took Hunter with a smile, but notices Dakotas blank face. Once she was in the kitchen, Nate took his time walking with Hunter. "Hey, Mama's not feeling good. Do you think you could help her be happy?" He asked Hunter in a hushed voice. Hunter nodded in determination. Nate smiled and set the boy down on the ground, and he took off running on his little baby legs over to Dakota. He pulled on her pantleg and looked up at her. "Mama? Can I help you make breakfast?"

"I think i've got it, thanks though, bud." She said, putting on a fake smile as Hunter dashed back over to Nate and said what Dakota had told him. "Why is Mama not feeling good?" Hunter asked

Nate scooped up Hunter and put him in his highchair. "She's just feeling a little sad," Nate explained simply for him.

Dakota felt her fake smile falter as she heard Nate's words. She should be doing so much better for her family.... She took a shaky breath and lingered a bit longer in the fridge before grabbing the items she needed to make breakfast